Automatic shampoo machine

ABSTRACT

Automatic shampoo machine for use in a beauty shop without necessity of an attendant, characterized in providing a plurality of arcuate or generally U-shaped semicircular elements of increasing size from a lower one to an upper one, having projections of resilient or elastomeric material extensively provided on the inner surfaces thereof for extending inwardly for massaging the patron&#39;&#39;s head, scalp and hair, and jets or apertures for directing water flow from between said projections essentially inwardly to the patron&#39;&#39;s head, scalp and hair, when positioned therein. The U-shaped members form liquid applicator and massaging mechanisms which are mounted from an end of a support arm and are provided for being arcuately moved by a pitman and crank arm system mounted from a counter top, the liquid applicator and massaging mechanism being mounted over a shampoo bowl.

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[54] A JUTUMATKC SHAMPOO MACHINE [72] Inventors: Romeo F. John; Lennice11.. John, both of Route 3, Taylor, Tex. 76574 [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1970[21] Appl. No.: 95,172

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Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-Gregory E McNeil]Attorney-l eith Misegades and George R. Douglas, Jr.

[ 57] ABSTRACT Automatic shampoo machine for use in a beauty shopwithout necessity of an attendant, characterized in providing aplurality of arcuate or generally U-shaped semicircular elements ofincreasing size from a lower one to an upper one, having projections ofresilient or elastomeric material extensively provided on the innersurfaces thereof for extending inwardly for massaging the patrons head,scalp and hair, and jets or apertures for directing water flow frombetween said projections essentially inwardly to the patrons head, scalpand hair, when positioned therein. The U-shaped members form liquidapplicator and massaging mechanisms which are mounted from an end of asupport arm and are provided for being arcuately moved by a pitman andcrank arm system mounted from a counter top, the liquid applicator andmassaging mechanism being mounted over a shampoo bowl.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN25 1972 3.636361 sum 2 OF 2INVENTORZ LEF-I'NICE L. JOHN ROI/1E0 P. JOHN ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC SHAMPOOMACHINE The present invention relates to an automatic shampoo machinefor simultaneously applying water mixed with liquid shampoo to onesscalp, head and hair, and then applying inwardly extending projectionsfrom a liquid applicating and massaging mechanism for massaging thehead, hair and scalp. The invention also relates to providing a shampoobowl under theliquid applicating and massaging mechanism to recover thespent water and liquid shampoo, and further the invention relates toproviding a counter top for mounting the driving mechanisms for thepitman and crank arrangement, as well as to supply terminals for waterliquid shampoo, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide automatic shampoomachine including a mechanism that will wash, shampoo and apply a rinseto a patrons head, scalp and hair with the proficiency of experiencedbeauty operators, and the same proficiency of shampoo service isachieved throughout.

A further and additional object and advantage of the present inventionis to provide a container and supporting apparatus mounted upon a tablecounter top with an adjacent shampoo bowl and to provide a liquidapplicating and massaging mechanism comprising several semicircularelements that are oscillated about a supporting arm, and from whichshampoo, water, and rinse liquids are provided to the patron.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide water ofspecified temperature and pressure with liquid shampoo to a massagingand shampooing apparatus mounted on a support arm, and to providenecessary rinse liquid, to achieve the automatic shampooing of a patronshead, hair and scalp.

A further and additional object of the present invention is to provide acounter top having a removable top covering the shampoo apparatus, andfor supporting a forwardly extending arm from which is mounted theliquid applicating and massaging mechanism, together with the provisionof horizontal and vertical sliding and rolling mechanisms engaging theremovable top to the counter top, so that the liquid applicating andmassaging mechanism may be conveniently applied to fit the head, scalpand hair of the patron with greater precision in adjustment and detail.Such adjusting mechanisms may comprise a shaft to adjust the removabletop in horizontal rolling relationship to the counter top or in similaradjustable vertical movements.

A further and additional object of the present invention is to provideprojections and apertures from which a jet of water mixed with liquidshampoo may be directed toward a patrons head, hair and scalp.

A further and additional feature of the present invention is to provideselectively the application of shampoo mixed with water to a patronshead, scalp and hair, and then to apply rinsing water, by use of theliquid applicating and massaging mechanism of the present invention, sothat as the shampooing is done automatically, a shampoo bowl collectsthe used water and shampoo, and the rinsing water in due course, toachieve the objects and advantages of the present invention.

One of the features of the present invention is to provide lower liquidapplicating and massaging mechanisms of smaller size, second and thirdapplicating and massaging mechanisms of intermediate size, and an upperliquid applicating and massaging mechanism of larger size, relatively,so that as movement is imparted of an oscillating nature to suchmechanisms, the back portion, the top portion and the entire head of thepatron is massaged throughout the hair and scalp.

The above and other objects and advantages of the above invention willbecome apparent upon full consideration of the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an elevation view ofa preferred embodiment ofthe presentinvention according to its best mode of construction and operation; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper liquid applicating and massagingmechanism taken along line 2-2 of FIG. ll.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown shampoo equipment forselective or coin actuation, not shown, having a shampoo bowl ll2 shownin cross section, and in which the upper edge thereof is mountedcontiguous with a counter top 114, that is horizontally mounted in theright portion of FIG. 1.

Above the counter top 114, there is a hollow covering shown as aremovable top 16 and the removable top is shown as having an inclinedfront face 18.

From the front face 18 of the top cover, there is provided a mountingflange 20 which is secured to the face 18 by bolts 22, 22. The mountingflanges are mounted on each side of the front face 18 and from theseflanges there extend support mounting arms 26, which extend forwardlyover the shampoo bowl 12.

There is a bushing-receiving aperture at the end of the support arms forproviding nonfrictional mounting for liquid applicating and massagingmechanism 30, which are connected to a mounting flange 32. One of themounting flanges is connected to a rocker arm 36 by a bolt arrangement38, and the other end ofthe rocker arm 36 is connected by a bushing 40to a pitman 42 which extends rearwardly :into the covering of theremovable top 16, and is connected there by a bushing 46 to a crank 48which is mounted upon a shaft 50 driven by a reduction gear electricmotor (not shown) and which may be equipped with speed adjustments (notshown) as necessary, and within the nature of the art within the skillof one proficient in the art.

A further and additional feature of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1 where the liquid applicating and massaging mechanism 30 comprisesa plurality of a lower liquid applicating and massaging mechanism 52, asecond such mechanism 54, and a third such mechanism 56, with an uppersuch mechanism 58, which are shown as having increased sizes orconfigurations from the lower to the upper mechanisms in that order. Thelower mechanism 52 is adapted to engage the lower head portion and neckportion of the patron, the second and third mechanisms reaching theupper rear portion of the scalp, and the upper such mechanism 58 beingof larger size to engage the forehead and frontal part ofthe skull,scalp or head portion of the patron.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the upper liquid applicating and massagingmechanism is provided with elastomeric or resiliently constructedprojections 60, 60 mounted from the inside sur face of the arcuate orU-shaped semicircular configuration forming the upper liquid applicatingand massaging mechanism 58. At one portion of the exterior of the uppermechanism 58, there is a water port connection 62, which communicatesthrough an opening throughout a portion of the arcuate length of theupper member 58 with jet openings or apertures 66, 66, through a canalmeans 68. The apertures 66, 66 direct the flow of water by jet actioninwardly of the upper member. The hollow covering shown as a removabletop 116 and the removable top is shown as having an inclined front face18.

The port 62 is connected to a main liquid transfer line 70. The lowermechanism 52, the second mechanism, and the third mechanism, 54 and 56,respectively, each have a corresponding port 62 and have a respectiveline identified as a main liquid transfer line 70, all terminating in anexterior manifold 72 which is on the front face 18 of the removable top.The manifold 72 communicates internally to a hot and cold water supplyline (not shown) from which may be provided water that is temperature,pressure, and flow controlled and regulated (not shown).

Also connected to the ports 62 are secondary liquid transfer lines thatare connected to a liquid injector tube and manifold (not shown), butsimilar to the manifold construction of manifold 72, the liquid injectortube and manifold for the shampoo not being shown. This manifold, ofcourse, is connected to a bulb-type syringe with spout {not shown) andwith a liquid shampoo container (not shown) by a liquid shampoo transferline (not shown).

It is by means of the rotation of the crank 48 that the pitman achievesoscillation of the mechanisms 52-58 so that the projections (SO-60constructed of elastomeric or resilient material are found to wash,shampoo, and massage the head, scalp and hair when water is appliedthrough the transfer lines 70, 70 and simultaneously or intermittentlytherewith shampoo liquid is applied through the secondary liquidtransfer lines 76.

Similarly, rinse after shampoo is achieved by the omission of shampoofluid being applied through the secondary liquid transfer line 72 andthe sole application of rinsing fluid through the liquid transfer lines70, 70.

in order to achieve precise contact of the projections 60 upon the head,hair and scalp, he removable top 16 may beadjusted horizontally by ahorizontal rolling mechanism mounted in the base of the removable top,and a pivotally operated shaft 80 comprising said horizontal rollingmechanism provides any necessary horizontal movement of the entire topunit 16 in a forward and aft direction, so that the liquid applicatingand massaging mechanism 30 may be adjusted to the patrons head, hair andscalp. Similarly, a pivot shaft and arm mechanism 82 provides verticalmovement of the entire removable top unit 16 so that it may tilt forwardand back again, as desired, in engaging the liquid applicating andmassaging mechanism to the patron.

it is pointed out in the description herein set out that FIG. 2 showsthe construction and features of the liquid applicating and massagingmechanism 30, in which the canal means 68 in the mechanism 58communicates with the port 62 at an orifice or communicating passage 86.Port 62 is coupled with a color rinse or liquid line 76, described aboveas the secondary liquid transfer lines.

It is within the purview of the present invention to provide the liquidapplicating and massaging mechanism 30 of preformed material or as mayotherwise be desired, and thus it is within the purview of the presentinvention that the mechanisms 30 may contain outer coverings withelastomeric projections integrally constructed therewith, or they may beseparately made and removable from the rigid canal walls of themechanism, and when so removed, they may be replaced after cleaning, orother necessary adjustments that may be made according to sizing andconfigurations to be desired.

The water rinse time control mechanism may be operated by a time controlmeans and the shampoo rinse, the water rinse, the color rinse, and anyadditional water rinses are provided, may be programmed as well as arest cycle during which the color rinse may be allowed to act withoutthe machine operating. The programming means may be any well known,on-the-shelf item as available. The cycling of such programmer may be ofan interval, such as a -minute cycle, or as otherwise desired.

The time control mechanism operates the pump for transferring the liquidshampoo from the shampoo container to the upper liquid applicating andmassaging mechanism 58 or the mechanisms 30, and it is also within thepurview of the present invention that color rinse may be manuallyinjected into the liquid dispensing system of the invention, if it isdesired. By color rinse in this application is meant a compounded liquidbeauty preparation used to darken the hair. Where the color rinse is acompounded liquid beauty preparation, as described above, the parts thatwould come into contact with such liquid color rinse may be made ofplastics, or other materials that do not react chemically with the rinseand are usually of nonmetallic materials.

It is within the purview of the present invention, therefore, to providemanual injecting equipment so that there are available many variouscolors and plans of color rinses that can be applied, or it may bedesired to apply a liquid preparation for a portion of the hair, aswithin the discretion of the operator or the user of the invention.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occurto others and, therefore, it is intended that the scope of the inventionbe limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodimentdescribed hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to thefollowing claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. Shampoo equipment for selective or com actuationcomprising a shampoo bowl having its upper edge mounted contiguous witha counter top,

a removable top covering a portion of said counter top,

a pair of support mounting arms secured to outside front edges of theremovable top and extending forwardly over said shampoo bowl,

a short rocker arm pivotally mounted to the free end of said supportmounting arms,

U-shaped liquid applicator and massaging mechanism having its free endsalso pivotally mounted to the free end of said support mounting arms,

a crank and shaft mounted for rotation on said counter top,

and

a pitman connecting the end of said crank to the end of said rocker armfor imparting sufficient back-and-forth movement to said liquidapplicator and massaging mechanism.

2. Shampoo equipment according to claim 1 wherein said U-shaped liquidapplicator and massaging mechanism comprises a plurality of circular andgenerally head-conforming structures having inwardly extendingprojections to provide moderate pressure upon the head, scalp and hairfor achieving massaging movement, a series of apertures interposedbetween said projections for directing liquid flow through saidapertures to the interior of said mechanism, the lower ones of saidmechanism constructed of a shorter arc to cover the necessary area ofthe head and scalp from the neck hairline of the patron around to theforehead of the patron.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said apertures are eachconnected to a port mounted peripheral thereof, respective transferlines connecting said ports to a source of water supply located withinsaid removable top.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein secondary transfer linesconnect to each of said ports for the injection of color rinse into themain liquid line for ejecting from said apertures when mixed with thewater.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the programming of liquidshampoo, massage, and color rinse, as desired, may be selectivelyprogrammed by a timer control mechanism.

1. Shampoo equipment for selective or coin actuation comprising ashampoo bowl having its upper edge mounted contiguous with a countertop, a removable top covering a portion of said counter top, a pair ofsupport mounting arms secured to outside front edges of the removabletop and extending forwardly over said shampoo bowl, a short rocker armpivotally mounted to the free end of said support mounting arms,U-shaped liquid applicator and massaging mechanism having its free endsalso pivotally mounted to the free end of said support mounting arms, acrank and shaft mounted for rotation on said counter top, and a pitmanconnecting the end of said crank to the end of said rocker arm forimparting sufficient back-and-forth movement to said liquid applicatorand massaging mechanism.
 2. Shampoo equipment according to claim 1wherein said U-shaped liquid applicator and massaging mechanismcomprises a plurality of circular and generally head-conformingstructures having inwardly extending projections to provide moderatepressure upon the head, scalp and hair for achieving massaging movement,a series of apertures interposed between said projections for directingliquid flow through said apertures to the interior of said mechanism,the lower ones of said mechanism constructed of a shorter arc to coverthe necessary area of the head and scalp from the neck hairline of thepatron around to the forehead of the patron.
 3. The invention accordingto claim 2 wherein said apertures are each connected to a port mountedperipheral thereof, respective transfer lines connecting said ports to asource of water supply located within said removable top.
 4. Theinvention according to claim 3 wherein secondary transfer lines connectto each of said ports for the injection of color rinse into the mainliquid line for ejecting from said apertures when mixed with the water.5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the programming of liquidshampoo, massage, and color rinse, as desired, may be selectivelyprogrammed by a timer control mechanism.